Rep. Kathleen A. Ryg

Congratulates Alex Marx on his retirement from the Mundelein Parks and Recreation District.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for grants to school districts for mental health services for students. Effective July 1, 2005.

Amends the Township Code. Provides that any township committee on the disabled may, subject to the approval of the township board, enter into service agreements to provide needed or required transportation services. Also amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a road district may use money in its district road fund to pay for the costs of transportation programs and mass transit programs for senior citizens and disabled persons (now, senior citizens only). Effective immediately.

Creates the Drug Repository Program Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish a drug repository program to accept and dispense prescription drugs donated for the purpose of being dispensed to Illinois residents who meet eligibility standards adopted by the Department. Provides for donations of drugs by drug manufacturers, health care facilities, and other persons. Prohibits the acceptance of drugs, donated by individuals, with an expiration date less than 6 months from the date the drug is donated. Provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for persons who donate, accept, or dispense drugs in accordance with the program. Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987, the Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act, the Senior Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and the Cannabis and Controlled Substances Tort Claims Act to provide that persons engaged in donating or accepting, or packaging, repackaging, or labeling, prescription drugs to the extent permitted or required under the Drug Repository Program Act are exempt from provisions of those other Acts that might prohibit or otherwise regulate such activity.

Amends the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. Provides that a home rule unit of local government or any municipality in this State may regulate smoking in public places. Provides that this regulation must be no less restrictive than the regulation in the Act. Changes the home rule limitation from an absolute preemption to a limitation on the concurrent exercise of home rule power. Maintains the exemption from home rule requirements for home rule units that passed ordinances regulating smoking before October 1, 1989. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after July 1, 2005, the Department of Public Aid shall reimburse providers of home health services under the Medicaid program at the same rates at which the federal government reimburses providers of those services under the Medicare program, using the Low Utilization Payment Adjustment (LUPA) national-average rate structure. Requires that the Department adjust those rates annually to reflect changes in the LUPA national-average rate structure. Effective immediately.

Creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act. Provides that this State and the other contracting states solemnly agree to the terms of the compact, whose purposes include the promotion of development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. Establishes a Commission, with 4 members from each contracting state, serving without compensation from the Commission, to carry out the purposes of the compact. Provides for the election of Commission officers, for meetings and Commission administration, and for financing of the operations of the Commission by the compacting states. Provides that the compact becomes effective among the contracting states upon the agreement of 3 eligible states to participate. Provides for the admission of additional states to the compact, amendment of the compact, the withdrawal, default, or termination of contracting states, and construction and severability of the compact.

Amends the Abuse Prevention Review Team Act. Repeals the provision that repeals the Act on July 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Creates the Accountable Schools Task Force to review and evaluate the complex issues involving the fiscal and performance accountability of the State's school districts and individual schools.

Appropriates $40,000,000, or so much of that amount as may be necessary, to the Department of Human Services for funding a 50 cent per hour wage increase for direct care and support staff employed by private sector agencies serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Effective July 1, 2005.